Have a taste of Southern hospitality when you sip on the Peach Bourbon Smash.
Tonight’s cocktail takes me right back to one of the places we lived while I was growing up. My father was in the Army, so we moved around all the time. The longest we stayed anywhere while he was on active duty was when I was in high school, four years in total. Most folks have a hometown, but us Brats didn’t. Something I’m very grateful for, actually.
When we lived in Georgia, it was in a little town outside of Savannah, about 30 minutes away, called Hinesville. And whenever relatives would come down from New York to visit, they all had to get a bushel of sweet Georgia peaches to take back with them. While I’m no expert, in my experience, as well as my family’s, nothing was sweeter or more succulent than a fresh, ripe peach from the Peach State.
And today’s recipe brings the best from both Georgia and Kentucky for a strong, Southern treat, the Peach Bourbon Smash cocktail. Simple syrup, muddled mint, and peaches mixed with bourbon, then topped with a cold and spicy ginger beer, is one of the absolute best and most refreshing drams that will ever pass your lips.
Enjoy, y’all!
What is the best bourbon to use in a Peach Bourbon Smash?
When choosing the proper spirit for this cocktail, picking the best bourbon boils down to what you like. If you’re unfamiliar with the robust and aged liquor, try your hand at mixing a Smash or two with some Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve or Buffalo Trace. My at-home selection is Bulleit and High West, with the latter being an especially flavorful and smooth sip.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup diced ripe peach about 1/2 large peach
- 3 to 4 fresh mint leaves
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce chilled ginger beer
- Fresh mint sprig for garnish
- 1 peach slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add the diced peach, mint leaves, and simple syrup. Gently muddle the mixture.
- Add bourbon to the shaker and fill it with ice. Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Top with the ginger beer and gently stir to combine. Garnish with a mint sprig and a peach slice if using.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Fill a rocks glass with ice, and once your cocktail is poured and ready to enjoy, garnish the rim with a peach slice and pop a fresh sprig of mint on top.
Are Georgia peaches the best?
I was only speaking from experience, and if that particular type of fruit is a little hard to come by in your neck of the woods, any fresh handful of peaches will do. Try a local farmer’s market for some truly tasty choices, especially when they’re in season.
Other Smash cocktails worth trying
I became a big fan of Smash drinks a few years back. At the Catalina Jazz Club, their bar menu had a Whiskey Smash listed, and the mix of lemons and liquor sounded too tasty to pass up. After that evening, I would find myself from time to time muddling some citrus and mint together and making myself a few of those refreshing concoctions to wind down. Check out some of these different takes to find what you like best.
- Elderflower Smash – Floral and sweet, this is one Smash that tastes like fresh mountain air.
- Tequila Smash – This tipple has some nice earthy and agave-forward vibes going for it.
- Gin Basil Smash – Crisp and herbal, this Smash is more than satisfying.
- Cherry Smash – Enjoy this tart and fruity elixir as you relax this evening.
Leave a Comment